While head football coach Mike Grossner has 92 players returning from last year’s NAIA Championship-qualifying team, he added 30 athletes on national signing day Wednesday to try to take the Wildcats to the next level.

Future Wildcats

Nick Becker (DE) – Eudora

Hollis Birmingham (RB) – Tulsa, Okla.

Parks Boeschen (TE) – Columbia, Mo.

Deontai Bradford (DL) – Tulsa, Okla.

Dvonte Brown (ATH) – Tulsa, Okla.

Jordan Brown (ATH) – Lawrence

Kharon Brown (DL) – Lawrence

Kyle Burdick (OL) – Blue Springs, Mo.

Matt Bush (LB) – Columbia, Mo.

Josh Chalker (DB) – Overland Park

Nick Frank (DB) – Grandview, Mo.

Gerald Hardridge (DB) – Tulsa, Okla.

Knute Holden (FB) – Shawnee

Tye Hughes (WR) – Lawrence

Drew Huttinger (DB) – Independence, Mo.

Hayden Jenkins (DB)- Topeka

Raymond Jones (LB) – Tecumseh

Xavier Lewis (WR) – Orlando, Fla.

Michael Lisher (OL) – Lawrence

Sione Maumau (DL) – Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Bryan Nugent (LB) – Overland Park

Preston Randolph (DB) – Lawrence

Keizon Reed (FB) – Tulsa, Okla.

Morgan Roth (TE) – Osawatomie

Kyle Self (WR) – Blanchard, Okla.

Taylor Stuart (TE) – Lawrence

Camren Torneden (RB) – Lawrence

Birdsong Warren (ATH) – Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Sam Wescott (LB) – Wichita

Nadir Zayyad (DL) – Overland Park

“I thought with this class that we really went after it,” Grossner said. “We were fairly picky on who we brought in for in-house visits … I think our coaching staff, admissions and people on campus that these guys came face-to-face with really did a great job in presenting Baker and what we have to offer.”

Grossner said he was pleased with the depth that was added at every position except placekicker, but sophomore Andrew Kimrey, who redshirted last year, will be returning.

Although Grossner signed 30 players from the high school and junior college levels as of Wednesday’s signing day, he indicated that there are still athletes who haven’t chosen a school yet that he is going after.

Grossner is excited about the recruiting class in general, but there are a few players in particular who is he extremely fond of.

“Camren Torneden is as special as they come,” Grossner said. “He’s a young man that as a freshman went to (the University of) Nebraska-Omaha and set all kinds of school records in the kick return game, as well as at tailback. He’s kind of a Wildcat quarterback.”

Like Torneden, Parks Boeschen of Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Mo. has wide skill set.

“Parks Boeschen has great feet and we’re going to try to make him a tight end,” Grossner said. “He was a left tackle or right tackle type guy and we’re going to see if he can adjust to that position. If he does, he’s got a chance to be really good. If not, we’ll put 50 pounds on him and keep him at tackle and he’ll be a really good offensive lineman.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Grossner also found a couple of players who he believes can make an immediate impact. He signed Boeschen’s teammate Matt Bush at linebacker and Kharon Brown out of Lawrence High School to help anchor the defensive line.

“(Brown) is a high motor, great student, fantastic nose guard,” Grossner said. “He just wreaked havoc in the Sunflower League, which is a great football league (in Kansas) … Plus, he brings charisma and leadership and has one of those personalities that is infectious. I think he’ll make an immediate impact and have a chance to play.”

Grossner also has some players who missed all or part of last season due to injury that he believes will make big contributions to the team.

Junior Scott Meyer will be back in action after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a scrimmage against Fort Scott Community College.

“(Meyer) actually could be released (for practice) during spring ball, but we’ll keep it light for him in the spring and get him healthy to be ready for the season,” Grossner said.

Spring football will also be a time of healing for juniors Jake Morse and Andrew Augsburger.

“Jake (Morse) and Andrew Augsburger both had similar surgeries on their ACLs and their projected time to be released to full duty is in June,” Grossner said. “Both are veteran guys who understand our system, especially Jake being a three-year starter. We feel like both of those guys have great work ethic and will prepare themselves over the summer to get ready for the season.”

Although Meyer, Morse and Augsburger will be out or limited for spring football, junior Dillon Baxter will not be in the backfield as he has transferred away from Baker for this semester.

“He is taking classes elsewhere,” Grossner said. “He’s back home in San Diego, but is taking a full schedule. We’re going to re-petition our (Academic Standards and Enrollment Management) committee in May (so he can) hopefully rejoin us in the summer and take some summer courses and then be with us in the fall.”

The Wildcats will shoot for their first conference championship since 1993 and a return trip to the NAIA Championships with their returning and incoming players.